The whispers didn't stop.
If anything…
They got worse.
"She's the pregnant one, right?"
"How is she still working?"
"I heard the CEO defended her…"
I kept walking.
Head up.
Steps steady.
Even though every word…
Landed.
But something inside me had changed.
I wasn't shrinking anymore.
"Jessy."
I turned.
Nina stood there, holding a file.
"You're being called to the executive floor."
My brows pulled together.
"The executive floor?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
That had never happened before.
Not to me.
Not to someone like me.
My heart started beating faster as I stepped into the elevator.
Each floor lighting up felt like a countdown.
To something I didn't understand yet.
When the doors opened…
Everything felt different.
Quieter.
Sharper.
More serious.
"Come in."
His voice.
Elias.
I stepped inside slowly.
Closing the door behind me.
He wasn't behind his desk this time.
He stood near the window.
Hands in his pockets.
Like he'd been thinking.
"You called for me," I said.
He turned.
And for a moment…
He just looked at me.
Not like a boss.
Not like yesterday.
Something softer.
But controlled.
"I did," he said.
Then he walked toward his desk.
Picked up a file.
"There's a project starting next week," he continued.
"High priority. Confidential. Limited team."
I stayed quiet.
Listening.
"I'm selecting people personally," he added.
Something in my chest shifted.
Slightly.
"And you're one of them."
Silence.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"Me?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Yes."
It didn't feel real.
"I don't understand," I said honestly.
"There are people more experienced—"
"I didn't choose experience," he cut in.
"I chose capability."
That hit differently.
My fingers tightened slightly.
"You handled pressure yesterday better than most people here would," he continued.
"You didn't break. You didn't react recklessly."
I swallowed.
"You stayed standing."
That word again.
Standing.
"And that matters," he finished.
For a moment…
I didn't know what to say.
Because no one had ever said something like that to me before.
"Why do I feel like this isn't just about work?" I asked quietly.
Silence.
Dangerous question.
Elias held my gaze.
Long.
Steady.
"It is about work," he said.
But his voice…
Wasn't fully convincing.
Something unspoken lingered.
Again.
"I won't treat you differently," he added.
"Not because of your situation."
I nodded slowly.
"I don't want special treatment."
"Good," he said.
"Because you won't get it."
For some reason…
That made me smile slightly.
Then—
"You'll be working directly with me."
That smile faded.
"…What?"
His expression didn't change.
"Direct reporting," he repeated.
"Meetings. Planning. Execution."
Too close.
"You're serious," I said.
"I don't joke about work."
My heart picked up again.
Not fear.
Something else.
"Okay," I said finally.
And just like that…
Something shifted again.
"Jessy."
I paused before reaching the door.
"Yes?"
He hesitated.
Just slightly.
"If at any point this becomes too much…"
I turned.
"…say it," he finished.
Not as my boss.
Not fully.
As something else.
"I won't break," I said quietly.
His eyes held mine.
"I know," he replied.
And that moment…
Felt too personal.
I left before it could become something more.
That evening…
I sat on my hostel bed.
Phone in my hand.
Mind racing.
"I got selected," I said.
"What?!" Riley screamed.
"Executive project?!" Starlet added.
Melyne grabbed my arm. "Jessy, that's huge!"
"I know," I said softly.
But inside…
It felt bigger than they understood.
Because this wasn't luck.
This was movement.
Forward.
Later that night…
I couldn't sleep.
So I stepped outside.
The air was cool.
Quiet.
"You do that a lot?"
I turned.
Startled.
Elias.
Again.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
I frowned slightly.
"You followed me?"
A pause.
"No," he said.
Then—
"I was driving. I saw you."
That didn't make it better.
Silence settled between us.
But not uncomfortable.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said.
"I'm not fragile."
"I didn't say you were."
Then—
"Strong people still need to be careful."
That…
Landed.
I looked away slightly.
"Why did you really choose me?" I asked.
Not work.
Not fully.
Silence.
Then he stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
"You want the honest answer?" he asked.
"Yes."
His eyes didn't leave mine.
"Because you don't look like someone waiting to be saved."
My breath caught.
"You look like someone fighting to become something," he added.
Too real.
Too accurate.
And too…
Close.
"I am," I whispered.
"I know."
That word again.
I let out a small breath.
"This doesn't change anything," I said quickly.
"The job. You. Me."
His lips almost curved.
Not quite a smile.
"Of course," he said.
But neither of us moved.
Because we both knew…
That wasn't true.
"Goodnight, Jessy."
"Goodnight… sir."
I walked away first.
Again.
But this time…
It wasn't escape.
It was control.
And behind me…
He didn't leave immediately.
Because something had already started.
Not love.
Not yet.
But something neither of us could ignore anymore.